Short Final

Editorial Staff

Monday, October 24, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An IFR pilot sought to descend to avoid IMC, noting their ARTCC route displayed a lower GPS altitude.
Seattle Center denied the descent, citing terrain as the reason.
The pilot attempted to use their WAAS-enabled GPS as a justification for a lower altitude.
ATC humorously clarified that aircraft equipment does not change the height of mountains, maintaining the terrain restriction.

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I was flying IFR from KHIO in Oregon to KMAN in Idaho and trying to avoid IMC. I saw that my ARTCC route showed a GPS altitude 2,000 feet lower than my current altitude, which would keep us below the IMC looming ahead.

Me: “Seattle Center, 28M, can I get lower?

Seattle Center: 28M, negative, I need to keep you here for terrain.”

Me: Roger that, I am WAAS-enabled.

I threw that last line out just in case he wasn’t aware that I could accept a lower altitude with my GPS.

Seattle Center: 28M, the equipment on your aircraft does not change the height of the mountains.

Dustin Woodhouse